Building an emergency fund isn’t just about saving money. It’s about shifting the way you think about money, security, and your own worth. For a long time, I viewed money as something I could always hustle for. I told myself I could handle any financial issue on the fly, that I could make up for…
Category: Financial Freedom
Why Your Emergency Fund Isn’t Selfish
Let’s be real: saving money for yourself can feel a little uncomfortable. We’ve all been there—guilt creeping in when you think about setting aside money just for you when there are so many other places it could go. Bills, family, friends, obligations. It feels like you should be taking care of everyone else first, right?…
I Used My Emergency Fund—and That’s Exactly What It’s For
Let’s talk about something most personal finance blogs won’t tell you: you will probably use your emergency fund. The whole point of building one is to have money available when life throws a curveball, and believe me, it will. I learned that lesson in a way I wasn’t exactly prepared for. It wasn’t a catastrophe….
The $20 Trick That Finally Got Me to Save Without Thinking
When I first set out to build my emergency fund, I did what most people do: I tried to save in big, dramatic bursts. “I’ll put away $200 this week,” I’d tell myself, and then I’d pull it off. For about a week. Then life would happen, and I’d drop back into old habits. The…
How I Saved My First $500 Again (And Why It Felt Bigger Than Before)
The first time I saved $500, I barely remember it. I was in my twenties, working full-time, living at home for a bit, and not really thinking about emergency funds. I just did it because some finance article told me to. The second time I saved $500, I was in my forties—and it felt like…